PHYSICIAN LICENSING EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS CORRECT
RATIONALE IN ITALICS
Physician Licensing Exam Practice Questions (1–25)
1. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial management for a patient with
acute myocardial infarction?
A. Administer oxygen and morphine only
B. Start beta-blocker before ECG
C. Perform ECG and give aspirin immediately
D. Give nitroglycerin without diagnosis
Correct rationale: The first step is to confirm diagnosis with ECG and administer aspirin to
prevent platelet aggregation.
2. Which vitamin deficiency causes megaloblastic anemia?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin B12
C. Vitamin C
D. Vitamin K
Correct rationale: Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to megaloblastic anemia due to impaired DNA
synthesis.
3. Which antibiotic is contraindicated in pregnancy due to risk of teeth discoloration in the
fetus?
A. Amoxicillin
B. Tetracycline
C. Erythromycin
D. Cephalexin
Correct rationale: Tetracycline binds calcium in fetal teeth, leading to permanent discoloration.
4. Which structure is primarily responsible for insulin secretion?
A. Alpha cells of pancreas
B. Beta cells of pancreas
C. Delta cells of pancreas
,D. Acinar cells of pancreas
Correct rationale: Beta cells in the islets of Langerhans produce and secrete insulin.
5. Which of the following diseases is caused by deficiency of dopamine in the brain?
A. Alzheimer’s disease
B. Parkinson’s disease
C. Huntington’s disease
D. Multiple sclerosis
Correct rationale: Parkinson’s disease results from loss of dopaminergic neurons in the
substantia nigra.
6. Which diagnostic test confirms HIV infection?
A. ELISA alone
B. Western blot or PCR after ELISA screening
C. CD4 count
D. CBC
Correct rationale: HIV diagnosis is confirmed by Western blot or PCR after a positive ELISA
test.
7. Which electrolyte imbalance is commonly associated with renal failure?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hyponatremia
Correct rationale: In renal failure, potassium excretion is impaired, leading to hyperkalemia.
8. Which hormone regulates sodium reabsorption in the kidney?
A. Insulin
B. Aldosterone
C. Cortisol
D. Oxytocin
Correct rationale: Aldosterone promotes sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion in renal
tubules.
9. The best investigation to confirm pulmonary embolism is:
A. Chest X-ray
, B. D-dimer test
C. CT pulmonary angiography
D. ECG
Correct rationale: CT pulmonary angiography directly visualizes thrombi in pulmonary arteries.
10. Which artery supplies the majority of the brain’s motor cortex?
A. Anterior cerebral artery
B. Middle cerebral artery
C. Posterior cerebral artery
D. Basilar artery
Correct rationale: The middle cerebral artery supplies the motor and sensory cortices for the
face and upper limbs.
11. What is the mechanism of action of beta-blockers?
A. Increase heart rate
B. Block beta-adrenergic receptors
C. Stimulate alpha receptors
D. Activate sodium channels
Correct rationale: Beta-blockers inhibit beta-adrenergic receptors, reducing heart rate and
contractility.
12. Which of the following is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors?
A. Constipation
B. Dry cough
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypoglycemia
Correct rationale: ACE inhibitors increase bradykinin levels, leading to a persistent dry cough.
13. A patient with jaundice and clay-colored stools likely has obstruction in:
A. Hepatic vein
B. Bile duct
C. Portal vein
D. Pancreatic duct
Correct rationale: Obstruction of the bile duct prevents bile flow into the intestine, causing pale
stools.
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS CORRECT
RATIONALE IN ITALICS
Physician Licensing Exam Practice Questions (1–25)
1. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial management for a patient with
acute myocardial infarction?
A. Administer oxygen and morphine only
B. Start beta-blocker before ECG
C. Perform ECG and give aspirin immediately
D. Give nitroglycerin without diagnosis
Correct rationale: The first step is to confirm diagnosis with ECG and administer aspirin to
prevent platelet aggregation.
2. Which vitamin deficiency causes megaloblastic anemia?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin B12
C. Vitamin C
D. Vitamin K
Correct rationale: Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to megaloblastic anemia due to impaired DNA
synthesis.
3. Which antibiotic is contraindicated in pregnancy due to risk of teeth discoloration in the
fetus?
A. Amoxicillin
B. Tetracycline
C. Erythromycin
D. Cephalexin
Correct rationale: Tetracycline binds calcium in fetal teeth, leading to permanent discoloration.
4. Which structure is primarily responsible for insulin secretion?
A. Alpha cells of pancreas
B. Beta cells of pancreas
C. Delta cells of pancreas
,D. Acinar cells of pancreas
Correct rationale: Beta cells in the islets of Langerhans produce and secrete insulin.
5. Which of the following diseases is caused by deficiency of dopamine in the brain?
A. Alzheimer’s disease
B. Parkinson’s disease
C. Huntington’s disease
D. Multiple sclerosis
Correct rationale: Parkinson’s disease results from loss of dopaminergic neurons in the
substantia nigra.
6. Which diagnostic test confirms HIV infection?
A. ELISA alone
B. Western blot or PCR after ELISA screening
C. CD4 count
D. CBC
Correct rationale: HIV diagnosis is confirmed by Western blot or PCR after a positive ELISA
test.
7. Which electrolyte imbalance is commonly associated with renal failure?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hyponatremia
Correct rationale: In renal failure, potassium excretion is impaired, leading to hyperkalemia.
8. Which hormone regulates sodium reabsorption in the kidney?
A. Insulin
B. Aldosterone
C. Cortisol
D. Oxytocin
Correct rationale: Aldosterone promotes sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion in renal
tubules.
9. The best investigation to confirm pulmonary embolism is:
A. Chest X-ray
, B. D-dimer test
C. CT pulmonary angiography
D. ECG
Correct rationale: CT pulmonary angiography directly visualizes thrombi in pulmonary arteries.
10. Which artery supplies the majority of the brain’s motor cortex?
A. Anterior cerebral artery
B. Middle cerebral artery
C. Posterior cerebral artery
D. Basilar artery
Correct rationale: The middle cerebral artery supplies the motor and sensory cortices for the
face and upper limbs.
11. What is the mechanism of action of beta-blockers?
A. Increase heart rate
B. Block beta-adrenergic receptors
C. Stimulate alpha receptors
D. Activate sodium channels
Correct rationale: Beta-blockers inhibit beta-adrenergic receptors, reducing heart rate and
contractility.
12. Which of the following is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors?
A. Constipation
B. Dry cough
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypoglycemia
Correct rationale: ACE inhibitors increase bradykinin levels, leading to a persistent dry cough.
13. A patient with jaundice and clay-colored stools likely has obstruction in:
A. Hepatic vein
B. Bile duct
C. Portal vein
D. Pancreatic duct
Correct rationale: Obstruction of the bile duct prevents bile flow into the intestine, causing pale
stools.
